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BBE Sonic Maximizer- the horses mouth

#101
Hij Judd!

I need to ask some questions regarding the MaxCom compressor. I need a rack compressor and I was interested in having Sonic Maximizer too, but everybody keep telling me I will end up not using sonic maximizer as it is too noisy. On the other hand I particularly tend to think it's probably because some kind of abuse when working with sonic maximizer. The thing is I like my tone very much and I don't want it to change radically. Can I still take some advantage of the sonic maximizer (I mean, I don't need a dynamic exciter 'cause I don't want my tone to be timbrically altered)? I know Mark King, one of my favourite bassists uses sonic maximizer and I love his tone but I don't know what part of it consists of the sonic maximizer (what character is obtained from the sonic maximizer). And here go all my newbie questions:

1) What does exactly the maximizer do (in my ears)? I heard that it delays the treble part of the signal so all frequencies attack your ear at the same time (don't know if this is accurate enough) making sound much clearer.

2) What do both controls do (I mean, once again, acoustically)?

Thank you so much. Sorry to bother you with such basic questions but I need to decide wether to go for just a compressor or this compressor with such add-ons.

Take care...

ANDRUCA
 
#103
Hi Andy,

i'm going to give you the link to our website where we have the info you're looking for:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

make sure you scroll all the way down as there is some useful inof near the bottom.

as far as inherent noise, apples for apples we spec out quieter than the dbx products we compared our compressor to.

i hope this helps.
 
#104
djnylonpants said:
hi jon,

our new MaxCom is friendly to anything that's put to it. it will not distort when used as a bass compressor.

the sound of the thing is really nice, i've demo'd it in many different applications and it's about as transparent of a compressor as i've ever used.

it is quite flexible and has a similar feature/parameter set as a dbx 266xl, the VCA's we're using, however, are the same as have been used in the dbx 166 which is their more upmarket piece. these are high headroom, extremely low noise VCA's.

the street price will be around 200.00, our retail price is 329.99

just for a value comparison, the dbx 166 sells for around 250.00 and our 882i balanced Sonic Maximizer also sells for around 250.00...so that's 500.00 worth of processing for around 200.00

we've just started shipping so let me know if you need to find a dealer.

thanks for the interest.

peace
Click to expand...

I'm intrested in one of these...I run my dbx 266xl in series for the extra gain stage, would I be able to do the same with the MaxCom, just not using the Maximizer on Channel one?

AJACKS
 
#106
sorry rev,

it's been a wacky few weeks with namm coming, i'm finishing 6 new products: prototypes, manuals, cut sheets, a new BBE catalog...advertising roll-out.

yes, you can use it in the way you've described. the Sonic Maximizer can be engaged or disengaged on a per channel basis.

thanks so much for the interest.

peace
 
#109
Judd,
First off, thanks for joining TB, and also, thanks for remaining as unbiased as you have. To be honest, when I first started reading this thread I was just waiting for it to turn into a sales pitch, but have been quite pleased thus far. Keep it up!

I've been using a 362 in my rig for some time now, but I find that I get some hiss in my signal chain when using it in conjunction with my DBX 166XL and DBX 131. Initially I thought I just had to much high-end EQ'd into my signal (I like to have a substantial amount for some added "bite"), but no amount of EQ'ing would cure this. I hit the bypass switch on the 362 and it yielded the same results. The only way to cure this was to remove the 362 from the signal chain. Once I did that it was dead silent. To try a different variable I removed the DBX units from the signal chain and re-attached the 362. Once again, no hiss. It was only when the units were in the same chain together that I noticed the problem. Any previous issues with DBX gear and your products?
 
#110
silky smoove said:
Judd,
First off, thanks for joining TB, and also, thanks for remaining as unbiased as you have. To be honest, when I first started reading this thread I was just waiting for it to turn into a sales pitch, but have been quite pleased thus far. Keep it up!

I've been using a 362 in my rig for some time now, but I find that I get some hiss in my signal chain when using it in conjunction with my DBX 166XL and DBX 131. Initially I thought I just had to much high-end EQ'd into my signal (I like to have a substantial amount for some added "bite"), but no amount of EQ'ing would cure this. I hit the bypass switch on the 362 and it yielded the same results. The only way to cure this was to remove the 362 from the signal chain. Once I did that it was dead silent. To try a different variable I removed the DBX units from the signal chain and re-attached the 362. Once again, no hiss. It was only when the units were in the same chain together that I noticed the problem. Any previous issues with DBX gear and your products?
Click to expand...

I'm using a 266XL...where do you have the dbx units in your signal chain?
 
#112
Finger Blister said:
I use a BBE 362NR, therefore no hiss whatsoever.

The BBE should go after Compression in the FX loop.

The BBE "restores" what Compression may take away from tone.

Just MHO.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input...over the holidays I'm going to mess with the rig while I have time and let my ears decide...but I agree, the 266 sounds better before the 362 than after...

...silky, you still there?
 
#113
Finger Blister said:
I use a BBE 362NR, therefore no hiss whatsoever.

The BBE should go after Compression in the FX loop.

The BBE "restores" what Compression may take away from tone.

Just MHO.
Click to expand...

Tried the compression absolutely first in the chain as quietly as I could at 1:30 AM...rather than double posting, check my post here; Order of items in chain thread

Thanks for your input...I think I'll have to stay with two separate units and not switch to the MaxCompressor, as that would then put the Sonic Maximizer ahead of the dbx 120A in my signal chain...
 
#114
RevGroove said:
...silky, you still there?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! I'm still here! You think you could get rid of me that easily :D

After trying what you guys suggested, and some other suggestions in a thread I made about my effects loop order, I'm not virtually noise free. My rig runs dead silent and changing the order still allowed me to mainaint MY tone. Thanks for the help guys!
 
#116
Hi djnylonpants, and thank you for being so active on this forum.

I'm in Canada, and I want to buy a (new) Bmax-T. I want to get the better price and still get the warranty in order. Can you arrange something for me? If not can you suggest an online site where I can order that little beast?

thank you very much, and again, great job you are doing!

René
 
#119
lol... ton francais est trés bon Bongomania ;)

Yes you guys are right, I didn't check those date, and didn't want to use PM. But I will do has lo-freq said and practice my english with some BBE staff.

thank you for let me know that I should have waiting long for dj to reply to me... the reason his that I read so much of post while in search of my preamp, and I saw some threads where dj posted, and didn't notice the dates... sorry for that.

I will anyway try to PM dj...

thanks guys.
peace to you
 
#120
I know this is still resurrecting an ancient thread, but someone might be looking for this answer at some point...

Rav said:
In regards to the BBE maxcom compressor. Does anyone know if the BBE process happens before or after the compression stage?

-Rav
Click to expand...

Based on BBE's belief that the Sonic Maximizer process should happen last in the signal chain, I would expect that the compressor happens before the SM.
 

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